Tater tots and fry sauce

The front of the Y-Stop is a small store and the back, past the coolers, is an even smaller restaurant area. We aren’t here more than once-a-year but we know the drill.

“Is anyone cooking?” I ask the grey-haired man behind the counter. It’s sort of like the Idaho Hotel in Silver City. Or the Sourdough Lodge near Lowman. Or the J&E up north in Clarkia. Just because the door is open and there’s a restaurant doesn’t mean someone is around to cook for you.